Apparatus and method for utilizing loader for paintball marker as a consolidated display and relay center

Abstract

Among other things, methods and apparatus regarding collection, dissemination and display of information concerning paintball loaders and markers are disclosed. A loader includes a heads-up display, electronic devices for gathering, storing and disseminating information, and an antenna for sending and receiving data. Wireless voice communications among paintball players is possible via associated headsets.

1. A method of operating paintball equipment, comprising:
 providing a plurality of paintball loaders having circuitry including a microcontroller, and providing associated paintball markers having circuitry, each said loader being a device initially separate from and insertable into and removable from a respective one of said markers; 
 establishing a wireless link between each of said microcontrollers and a separate computer, and synching each of said microcontrollers with the computer so that each of said microcontrollers are identified as a communication group, each of said microcontrollers is assigned an identification code over said wireless link; 
 broadcasting a message from one of said loaders, said message including information identifying said one of said loaders or at least one loader in the communication group; 
 receiving said message by at least one of said loaders, wherein said message is sent to the microcontroller of said at least one receiving loader; and 
 sending said message to a visual or auditory output associated with said receiving loader. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a plurality of headsets having at least one speaker and a microphone, each of said headsets being associated with a respective loader, and wherein said broadcasting includes speaking said message into a microphone of one of said headsets, said message being transmitted from said one of said headsets to its associated loader. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a plurality of headsets having at least one speaker and a microphone, each of said headsets being associated with a respective loader, and wherein a speaker of the headset associated with the at least one loader involved in the receiving functions as said auditory output. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising establishing a wireless link between one of said loaders and its respective marker, transmitting a signal concerning data of said respective marker from said respective marker to said one of said loaders, and displaying said data on a display on said loader. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein said link is bidirectional, so that instructions may be transmitted from said one of said loaders to its respective member. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing said message in said microcontroller for access following said sending. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising replying to said message, said replying including broadcasting a second message from the loader involved in the receiving, said second message including information identifying said loader involved in the receiving or at least one loader in the communication group, and receiving said second message at at least one of said loaders, wherein said second message is sent to the microcontroller of said loader receiving said second message. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising inputting information of a set of players via one or more electronic inputs in said loader, wherein said loader broadcasts said information to at least one other loader of said set of players. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing data developed from operation of at least one of said markers in a microcontroller of at least one of said loaders, and following said storing, downloading said data to an external data analysis or storage device. 
     
     
       10. A method of operating paintball equipment, comprising:
 sending a message from a first loader to a predetermined communication group, the first loader having a microcontroller fixed to it adapted to control the sending, the predetermined communication group created by synching a plurality of loaders including the first loader to a computer prior to the sending; 
 receiving the message at a second loader of the communication group, the second loader having a microcontroller fixed to it adapted to send information from the message to a user of the second loader via a visual or auditory output. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first loader includes a transceiver fixed to the loader and operatively connected to the microcontroller, and the transceiver performs the sending.